We don't know when or if this item will be available.
“I’m loving this matcha. Thank you so much, Derk. I’ve had it both as a latte and the traditional way. 2-3 chashaku scoops, through a sieve. ~2 oz water to make a paste, then whisked another 2 oz....” Read full tasting note
“Spring 2019 Harvest, Winter 2020 Grind Oh, man. I haven’t whisked a bowl of matcha for over five years and it shows. And I thought I could get away without sifting and winging the portion...” Read full tasting note
“June 2019 harvest, January 2020 grind I am inexperienced with matcha. No sieve, no scoop, no bowl. My only tool is a bamboo whisk. It’s like when I started gongfu brewing and was using a mason...” Read full tasting note
A splendid matcha produced from the Samidori cultivar with a rich umami taste accompanied by a gentle sweetness and banana and rosemary hints.
Produced from ground Tencha from the first harvest of the year with 3-4 weeks of shading, making it one of the highest grades of Matcha.
Sourced via Obubu, neighbours of Tecchan.
Harvest: Spring, May 2016
Cultivar: Samidori
Origin: Wazuka, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Farmer: Tecchan
Packaging: Matcha packaged in sealed foil bag in Japan which is placed in a resealable foil bag in London
Company description not available.
I’m loving this matcha. Thank you so much, Derk. I’ve had it both as a latte and the traditional way. 2-3 chashaku scoops, through a sieve. ~2 oz water to make a paste, then whisked another 2 oz. (175°F). A bright green powder, finely ground, full-bodied grassy aroma… And when prepared in a syrup form (koicha) no bitterness, pure umami, very smooth, foamy, silky, light lingering sweetness.
Note: My local USPS isn’t delivering packages anymore even though we have a locker. In fact, they are just sending packages back… So much for buying any tea online for now especially international. I hope all of you are safe and happy.
Flavors: Sweet, Umami
Spring 2019 Harvest, Winter 2020 Grind
Oh, man. I haven’t whisked a bowl of matcha for over five years and it shows. And I thought I could get away without sifting and winging the portion ratios/whisking motions? Nope. Waaaay too many clumps.
Thankfully, this matcha is a tasty forgiving kind. It’s mellow and grassy (bitter and sweet like dark chocolate), with a banana sweet finish. Today I tried it directly as powder (when it coated my fingers, don’t ask), as a hot whisked cup (strong but smooth), before dumping most of that cup over ice cubs and adding milk (mellow, grassy, gentle, savoury herb and sweet banana finish). It was tasty and flavourful in all forms. Looking forward to drinking this up and, hopefully, treating it with more respect!
Flavors: Banana, Dark Bittersweet, Grass, Herbs, Moss, Umami
When I use less powder, I can taste banana just under-ripe in the finish.
So far the banana has been a one off and occurred after adding the milk and doing weird things with ice cubes and water ratio. It was super vivid, and you’re right- totally a green banana, but like I don’t even know what I did to get it. It was such a mess. Haha
Yeah, today is more moss, grass, umami, and maybe slightly sweet plantains to finish. A faint starchy/fruit sweetness.
I also get the faint rosemary note when I ice latte and “clump” it. Such a weird flavour. I haven’t tasted it in my warm cups though!
June 2019 harvest, January 2020 grind
I am inexperienced with matcha. No sieve, no scoop, no bowl. My only tool is a bamboo whisk. It’s like when I started gongfu brewing and was using a mason jar to brew in and a fork to strain the leaves as I poured the tea into another mason jar. I got good results that way. In the same manner, I feel like I’m getting good results with matcha using only the whisk and a glass condiment bowl. Frothy and smooth, silky, always in suspension.
I preferred using water off the boil instead of water temperature as low as 150?F. Off the boil produced a more deeply aromatic cup and more bitterness. The taste seemed earthy, almost like cacao, with a deep and dark grassy umami. The sip was semi-sweet moving to a fast, spreading bitterness on the swallow.
The experience of drinking matcha is a big adjustment to my palate. I couldn’t pick up any nuances in flavor. I still so greatly enjoyed the 25g over only a week that I ordered another 100g. This matcha was really a perfect morning drink. The taste was bracing enough to wake up my senses and it was surprisingly kind on my stomach. I barely noticed the caffeine buzz because it was so dang smooth and long-lasting. That’s what really drew me into consuming the entirety of the bag so quickly.
Flavors: Banana, Cacao, Dark Bittersweet, Earth, Grass, Moss, Umami
Impressive creativity! The tools aren’t necessary, they just make things easier. (:
That sounds so good, derk. I have been looking for more matcha too.
Kawaii433, I ordered 100g which comes as 4-25g packets. If you don’t want to wait for shipping from England (my order last month took I think 2 weeks to arrive), I’d be happy to mail you a packet.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had matcha; I don’t even have a whisk anymore! I impulsively ordered some of this last week though so find your review timely :)
Derk, I just saw your message here. Thank you so much. As soon as my post office problem gets resolved. I will order some from What-cha. I just had some with oat milk. It was delicious :D.
That’s wild USPS isn’t delivering. Are you in a particularly hard hit area?
That seems illegal, especially if they are just sending the packages back instead of at least handing you a card saying it will wait at the PO for you…
Derk, unfortunately, I am in a very hard-hit area. :(
Tea-sipper, Yup. This is what they do… They put final notice in my mailbox (and it is always the 1st), & refuse to put it in the locker right there OR redeliver it when I request, and sometimes they hold it & other times, they just send it back. I’ve made countless of complaints. >.<
ah ok, but still, it seems ridiculous even for these times.
tea-sipper Absolutely ridiculous! It took me literally a month to find one of two packages. I had finally bought some Bird & Blend Tea and was so excited only for this post office to send me on a wild goose chase. They are nice, as they are re-sending me the second package. I believe the original on it’s way back to their place. It’s almost 100% sure than anything international will never make it here without some serious detective work lol. I had this problem with my last TeaVivre shipment. It’s not their fault, it’s my post office.
I went to Wazuka last fall! Obubu is located there. :D